آهاalas لهاfor it منof غصةa choking pang النادمthe remorseful
آها لها من غصة النادم
موتthe death of عليAli ابنson of أبيfather of القاسمal-Qasim
موت علي ابن أبي القاسم
Ah, what a choking pang for the remorseful—
Alas, what anguish for the remorseful,
The death of Ali ibn Abi al-Qasim.
The death of Ali son of Abi al-Qasim
آهاalas وأحزاناand sorrows وفقداand loss لهfor him
آها وأحزانا وفقدا له
وغيرand without ماany نكرreproach علىagainst الحاكمthe Judge
وغير ما نكر على الحاكم
Alas, the sorrows, and the loss of him!
Alas, our sorrows and loss of him
Yet no reproach falls upon the Judge.
And the blame upon the ruler
نحنwe وانand even if عمرنare prolonged أعمارناour lifetimes
نحن وان عمرن أعمارنا
عمارهاtheir builders يعمرbuilds للهادمfor the destroyer
عمارها يعمر للهادم
We, though our lifetimes may be prolonged,
Though we may live out our lives
Are their builders, building for the destroyer.
Inhabiting them, for the destroyer they are built
عامتfloated بناwith us الآمالhopes فيin لجةa deep sea
عامت بنا الآمال في لجة
تعجزproves helpless عنهاagainst it حيلةthe skill of العائمthe swimmer
تعجز عنها حيلة العائم
Hopes have borne us afloat in a deep sea
Hopes have carried us into a maelstrom
Where the swimmer's skill proves helpless.
Beyond the power of the swimmer
آمالناour hopes أزرتhave brought disgrace بأعمالناupon our deeds
آمالنا أزرت بأعمالنا
حتىuntil وقعناwe fell موقعthe plight of الواجمone silent with grief
حتى وقعنا موقع الواجم
Our hopes have brought disgrace upon our deeds,
Our hopes were bound by our deeds
Until we fell into the plight of one silent with grief.
Until we were in the place of the fallen
نتيهwe wander astray فيin الدنياthe world بماby what زخرفتit has adorned
نتيه في الدنيا بما زخرفت
كتيهةlike the bewilderment of المقتولone slain بالصارمby the sharp sword
كتيهة المقتول بالصارم
We wander astray amid the world's adornments,
Wandering the world, deluded by its vanities
Like the bewilderment of one struck down by a sharp sword.
Like one murdered by the sword
ننامwe sleep مسرورينdelighted فيin غبطةcontentment
ننام مسرورين في غبطة
لمnot ندرwe knew ماwhat عاقبةthe fate of النائمthe sleeper
لم ندر ما عاقبة النائم
We sleep delighted, in contentment,
We sleep content in false joy
Not knowing what awaits the sleeper.
Not knowing the outcome for the sleeper
لمnot نلزمwe observe الموجوبwhat is obligatory إلزامهits observance
لم نلزم الموجوب إلزامه
إلزامناour observance of ماwhat ليسis not باللازمrequired
إلزامنا ما ليس باللازم
We have not observed what must be observed
We neglected the compulsory as we should have done
As we have observed what is not required.
Our compulsion was for the unnecessary
نرعىwe graze in رياضthe meadows of اللهوdiversion فيin غفلةheedlessness
نرعى رياض اللهو في غفلة
منof قانصa hunter دونbefore الرجاhope هاجمattacking
من قانص دون الرجا هاجم
We graze in pleasure's meadows, heedless
We shepherd the meadows of distraction heedlessly
Of a hunter who strikes before hope is fulfilled.
While the fateful moment draws near unseen
نعمرwe build up مغرورينdeluded دارthe abode of الفناperishing
نعمر مغرورين دار الفنا
بهدمby laying waste to يومa day آخرanother دائمeverlasting
بهدم يوم آخر دائم
Deluded, we build the abode of perishing,
In oblivion we build up the abode of extinction
By laying waste to another, everlasting day.
Whose demolition on the final day is certain
ونجمعand we gather الأموالwealth مغموسةtainted
ونجمع الأموال مغموسة
تجميعthe hoarding of مخبولone crazed بهاby it غاشمreckless
تجميع مخبول بها غاشم
And we amass tainted wealth,
And gather wealth dripping with sin
As one crazed by it hoards, recklessly.
A madman's hoard seized by the usurper
وهادمand the destroyer of اللذاتpleasures يحدوdrives onward بناus
وهادم اللذات يحدو بنا
حدوthe urging of حداةcamel-drivers of الظاعنthe departing traveler الصارمthe resolute
حدو حداة الظاعن الصارم
And the destroyer of pleasures drives us onward,
While the destroyer of pleasures spurs us on
As camel-drivers urge a resolute traveler on.
With the goad of a piercing, piercing blade
لوif يعرفknew الإنسانthe human being مقدارهhis measure
لو يعرف الإنسان مقداره
ماnot تاهwould boast مخدومa master علىover خادمa servant
ما تاه مخدوم على خادم
If a human being knew his measure,
If man but knew his worth
No master would boast over a servant.
He would not wander, a ruled serf of the ruled
أشرافناour nobles فيin الموتdeath أوor ضدهاtheir opposites
أشرافنا في الموت أو ضدها
سيّانequal فيهin it قسمةthe allotment of القاسمthe Divider
سيّان فيه قسمة القاسم
Our nobles in death, or their opposites,
Our leaders in death or against it are equal
Are equal in it, by the Divider's allotment.
In the share dealt out by the divider
بلrather كلevery سامexalted one سامكlofty قدرهhis rank
بل كل سام سامك قدره
يحمىis driven بهwith him للقبرto the grave كالحائمlike one circling
يحمى به للقبر كالحائم
Rather, every exalted man, lofty in rank,
Rather each person's lot is their measure
Is driven toward the grave like one circling.
Their provision for the grave, like beasts herded
والموتand death لمnot يرحمhas shown mercy كبيراًan elderly person ولمand not
والموت لم يرحم كبيراً ولم
يكنhas been لذيto one with الصبوةyouthful ardor بالراحمmerciful
يكن لذي الصبوة بالراحم
And death has not spared the old, nor
And death has spared no elder, nor
Has it been merciful to the ardent young.
Was it gentle to the young man
نرتاعwe shudder للموتat death وأهوالهand its terrors
نرتاع للموت وأهواله
ونزدهيand we grow proud إنif غابit vanishes كالحلمlike a dream
ونزدهي إن غاب كالحلم
We shudder at death and its terrors,
We dread death and its horrors
And grow proud when it fades like a dream.
Yet pine if absent like a dream
لاno فرقdifference إنif فكرتyou reflect ماwhat lies بينناbetween us
لا فرق إن فكرت ما بيننا
وبينand between هذاthis البهمlivestock السائمgrazing
وبين هذا البهم السائم
If you reflect, there is no difference between us
No difference if you consider between us
And this grazing livestock.
And this constant, dreary confusion
فموتfor the death of أهلthe people of الأرضthe earth طراall ومنand whoever
فموت أهل الأرض طرا ومن
فيهاupon it جميعاًall together موتةthe death of العالمthe scholar
فيها جميعاً موتة العالم
For the death of all earth's people, and everyone
For the death of all upon this earth, both
Upon it together, is a scholar's death.
The great and the forgotten, is the death of all
منwho لاnot يرىsees أنthat التقىpiety والنهىand wisdom
من لا يرى أن التقى والنهى
يذهبdeparts والعلمand learning منfrom العالمthe world
يذهب والعلم من العالم
Who does not see that piety and wisdom
Who does not see that piety and restraint vanish
Depart, with learning, from the world?
And knowledge from the world-wise fades
فهكذاso, thus لاno شكdoubt إذهابهits removal
فهكذا لا شك إذهابه
موتthe death of عليّAli ابنson of أبيfather of القاسمal-Qasim
موت عليّ ابن أبي القاسم
Here, beyond doubt, is what takes it away:
So too, undoubtedly, his passing
The death of Ali ibn Abi al-Qasim,
Was the death of Ali son of Abi al-Qasim
ذيhaving ثلمةa breach لاno خيرgood فيهاin it ولاand no
ذي ثلمة لا خير فيها ولا
تنفعavails فيهاin it لومةthe reproach of اللائمthe reproacher
تنفع فيها لومة اللائم
Leaving a breach with no good in it, nor
An unvirtuous wound from which no
Can a reproacher's reproach avail there.
Reproach could draw any healing
شمسthe sun of عمانOman فيin الثرىthe earth نورهاits light
شمس عمان في الثرى نورها
غابhas vanished فلمand did not يوضحgive light إلىto شائمa watcher
غاب فلم يوضح إلى شائم
The sun of Oman—its light beneath the earth
The sun of Oman in the earth, its light
Has vanished, giving no light to the watcher.
Has set and shines no more for the critic
بحرthe sea of الفتاوىlegal rulings غاضhas ebbed عنaway from مدهits flood-tide
بحر الفتاوى غاض عن مده
فيwithin عرضthe breadth of شبرa handspan طامسeffaced طاسمobliterated
في عرض شبر طامس طاسم
The sea of legal rulings has ebbed from full flood
The sea of jurisprudence beyond its shore
Within a handspan's breadth, effaced and obliterated.
In a single cubit, turbid and silent
بعدafter عليAli لمnot نجدwe have found عالماa scholar
بعد علي لم نجد عالما
يفكunravels رمزthe riddle of المشكلthe problem اللازمpersistent
يفك رمز المشكل اللازم
After Ali, we have found no scholar
After Ali we found no scholar
Who unravels the riddle of a stubborn problem,
To elucidate the implicit meanings
يستخرجdraws out المنصوصwhat is explicitly stated منfrom أصلهits source
يستخرج المنصوص من أصله
ويأخذand takes الموجودwhat exists منfrom عادمwhat is lacking
ويأخذ الموجود من عادم
Who draws what is explicitly stated from its source,
And extract what is present from the absent
And draws what exists from what is lacking;
Take the understood from the understanding
ويعلمand knows الآيthe verses ومنسوخهand what of it is abrogated
ويعلم الآي ومنسوخه
والمفهمand what is made clear المحكومdecisively settled للفاهمfor the discerning
والمفهم المحكوم للفاهم
Who knows the verses and what of them is abrogated,
Know the verses and their abrogation
And what is made clear, decisively settled for the discerning;
And the wisdom of the Prophet's clan, the Hashimites
ويعلمand knows الاجماعconsensus منfrom أهلهits qualified authorities
ويعلم الاجماع من أهله
وسنةand the practice of الطهرthe pure one الرضىthe well-pleasing one الهاشمthe Hashimite
وسنة الطهر الرضى الهاشم
Who knows consensus from its qualified authorities,
His knowledge, if depicted as an ocean, would not
And the practice of the pure, well-pleasing Hashimite.
Be compassed by the efforts of any swimmer
علماًknowledge فلوso, if صورwere shaped بحراًas a sea لماwould not
علماً فلو صور بحراً لما
عامتcould float عليهupon it قدرةthe strength of العائمthe swimmer
عامت عليه قدرة العائم
Such knowledge—were it shaped into a sea, no
With thought he unravels the most complex knot
Swimmer's strength could keep afloat upon it.
Split by the hands of the vile
يقوضdismantles بالفكرwith thought علىagainst مشكلa problem
يقوض بالفكر على مشكل
كسرهits shattering منfrom فعلهhis action الشايمthe observer
كسره من فعله الشايم
With thought he dismantles a problem,
Until religion was settled in its foundation
The observer sees its shattering in his work.
And the oppressed empowered over the oppressor
حتىuntil أقرestablished الدينreligion فيin أصلهits foundation
حتى أقر الدين في أصله
وعزand strengthened مظلوماًone wronged علىagainst الظالمthe wrongdoer
وعز مظلوماً على الظالم
Until he established religion upon its foundation,
He died, yet revived sciences that
And strengthened the wronged against the wrongdoer.
Had dwindled from scholar to scholar
ماتhe died وقدand had أحياrevived العلومthe sciences التيthat
مات وقد أحيا العلوم التي
عنfrom عالمa scholar نصتwere transmitted إلىto عالمa scholar
عن عالم نصت إلى عالم
He died, having revived the sciences that
Some he outlined in his books
Were transmitted from one scholar to another.
Others with the faithful compiler
فبعضهاso, some of them فيin كتبهhis books أرسمتwere written down
فبعضها في كتبه أرسمت
والبعضand the rest عندwith الحاملthe bearer الراسمthe recorder
والبعض عند الحامل الراسم
Some of them were set down in his books,
For Ali ibn Abi al-Qasim
And the rest with those who bear and record them.
Scholarship weeps with overflowing tears
علىfor عليAli بنson of أبيfather of القاسمal-Qasim
على علي بن أبي القاسم
تبكيweeps العلاnobility بالمدمعwith the tearful eye الساجمstreaming
تبكي العلا بالمدمع الساجم
For Ali ibn Abi al-Qasim
And books and pens mourn the loss
Nobility weeps with a tear-streaming eye.
Of a sea, turbulent and bitter
والكتبand books والأقلامand pens تبكيweep أسىin sorrow
والكتب والأقلام تبكي أسى
بحرa sea of وجدgrief مسعرkindled صارمcutting
بحر وجد مسعر صارم
And books and pens weep in sorrow,
If earth should conceal his complexion
A sea of grief, kindled and cutting.
His memory remains unconcealed
إنif يكتمنshould conceal عنيfrom me الثرىthe earth لونهhis complexion
إن يكتمن عني الثرى لونه
فذكرهyet his memory ماwhat ليسis not بالكاتمconcealing
فذكره ما ليس بالكاتم
If the earth conceals his complexion from me,
His virtues broadcast among citizens
Yet it does not conceal his memory.
Of homelands near and distant
أخلاقهhis virtues بالعلمthrough learning منشورةmade known
أخلاقه بالعلم منشورة
لواطنيto inhabitants of الأوطانthe homelands والقادموand newcomers
لواطني الأوطان والقادمو
His virtues are made known through learning
His asceticism has preserved his life
To dwellers of the homelands and newcomers.
Like rain on smiling meadows
وزهدهand his asceticism أبقىhas preserved حياةa life لهfor him
وزهده أبقى حياة له
كالغيثlike rain فيamong زهرthe flowers of الرباthe hills الباسمsmiling
كالغيث في زهر الربا الباسم
And his asceticism has preserved a life for him,
And righteous, pure Zakiyya and his sons
Like rain among the smiling flowers of the hills.
The steadfast fighter who remains
وصالحand Salih الزاكيthe virtuous وأولادهand his children
وصالح الزاكي وأولاده
وابناand the two sons of أخيهhis brother المجاهدthe striving القائمthe steadfast
وابنا أخيه المجاهد القائم
And Salih the virtuous, and his children,
They did not die though successors to him
And the two sons of his striving, steadfast brother—
The bulwark of religion, replaced the missing
ماnot ماتhas died منhe who كاناthose two were عقيباًa successor لهto him
ما مات من كانا عقيباً له
همthey عصمةthe safeguard of الدينreligion غناthe wealth of العادمthe destitute
هم عصمة الدين غنا العادم
He has not died, with those two as his successors.
They are the pinnacle of creation, no human
They are the faith's safeguard, the wealth of the destitute.
Since Adam until mankind's thread is cut
همthey ذروةthe summit of الخلقcreation فمنso, from آدمAdam
هم ذروة الخلق فمن آدم
حتىuntil انقضىhas ended عمرthe lifespan of بنيthe children of آدمAdam
حتى انقضى عمر بني آدم
They are creation's summit—from Adam
The season never neglects to remember him
Until the lifespan of Adam's children ends.
With praise, no blame, no fault
لاnever برحceases الموسمthe gathering منfrom ذكرهhis remembrance
لا برح الموسم من ذكره
بالحمدwith praise لاno لومblame ولاand no لائمreproacher
بالحمد لا لوم ولا لائم
May the gathering never cease remembering him
The sky rains generosity on Ali's tomb
With praise, without blame or any reproacher.
Every downpour and heavy fall
جادmay it rain generously علىupon قبرthe grave of عليّAli سماthe sky
جاد على قبر عليّ سما
كلevery ملثunceasing وابلheavy rain ساجمstreaming
كل ملث وابل ساجم
May the sky lavish upon Ali's grave
And God's mercy casts shade over it
Every unceasing, copious, streaming shower.
In his shrine and on the momentous day
ورحمةand the mercy of الرحمنthe All-Merciful تغشاهenfolds him فيin
ورحمة الرحمن تغشاه في
ضريحهhis tomb والموقفand the place of Judgment الغائمclouded
ضريحه والموقف الغائم
And may the All-Merciful's mercy enfold him in
The paradise of Firdaws is his dwelling
His tomb and the clouded place of Judgment.
Neighbors to the Hashimite Prophet
وجنةand the garden of الفردوسParadise مأوىan abode لهfor him
وجنة الفردوس مأوى له
مجاوراًas a neighbor للمصطفىto the Chosen One الهاشمthe Hashimite
مجاوراً للمصطفى الهاشم
And may the Garden of Paradise be his abode,
May Allah bless him, Lord of all people
As a neighbor to the Chosen One, the Hashimite.
As long as the soft winds blow
صلىmay bless عليهupon him اللَهGod باريCreator of الورىall beings
صلى عليه اللَه باري الورى
ماas long as دامcontinues يجريto flow نسمthe breath of الناسمthe breather
ما دام يجري نسم الناسم
May God, Creator of all beings, bless him,
As long as the breath of the breather flows.
Partial English translation: 90 of 92 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1